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Former West Indies legend Brian Lara has advised Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli to reconsider his decision regarding Test cricket.
Virat Kohli has reportedly been in talks with top BCCI officials for the past month, exploring the possibility of stepping away from the longest format of the game, a format he once ruled and revolutionised as captain.
The decision would mark the end of Kohli’s remarkable 14-year red-ball career.
Having already retired from T20Is in 2024 following India’s World Cup triumph, Kohli’s Test exit would signal the closing of an era for Indian cricket, especially coming so soon after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format.
In a social media post, Brian Lara said that Virat Kohli should be persuaded to continue in the red-ball format.
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“Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket,” he said.
Brian further emphasised Virat’s average for the remainder of his career in the longest format.
“@virat.kohli is going to average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career,” he added.
Statistically, Kohli’s Test journey boasts 123 matches and 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including a memorable tenure as captain across 68 Tests.
However, his red-ball form has seen a noticeable decline, with his average dipping to 32.56 in the past two years, despite a century in Perth in late 2024.
Virat Kohli remains among the elite A+ category in the BCCI’s central contracts — a bracket usually reserved for all-format players.
But with T20Is already behind him and his future in Tests uncertain, a shift in his cricketing priorities seems increasingly likely.
It’s worth noting that the Test series between India and England will kick off on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, followed by matches at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
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